Humorous and insightful commentary about art and life in general. Exhibition reviews, explorations on creativity and essays about stuff that happens to all of us in everyday life.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Catching Up and Catching On

Lined up to get their squared added to big picture.

We gots us some catch’n up to do! Yes, well aware I have been delinquent in my
blogging duties and only myself to blame.
Well….that and the fact my internal organs decided to liquefy and make a
break for it out my sinuses. Found out
that TP is far better than tissues for said purposes. What do the TP companies advertise?...”soft
and absorbent” to which I will add “convenient.” Think I could get a deal on Shark Tank if I
combine a fanny pack with a TP holder that straps on the waist and provides a
constant source of crud catchers? Aren’t you glad you decided to read this?

Since we were closed for January’s First Friday, there are
no questions or project info to share. Our reopening in Feb went very well
however so I did get all of that compiled and listed below. The project was another “Great Square Inches
of Art”, this time based on a Louis Tiffany window of a peacock. Since this was the second go around at
pulling off this project, repeat participants wasted no time getting involved.
All 238 squares were completed by 10pm – good job!

The Boutique has expanded to the front room, our office
space has moved to the rear, Su’s cutting tables and dying buckets are ready
for business, the jewelry cases hold fabrics and projects ready to be
re-envisioned, art is everyplace (hers and mine) and the hallway is our photo
gallery. Community projects for sale are
in the public restroom (hey, you get the real estate you pay for) and elsewhere
as it fits, and the studio is also now the classroom. You will no longer find rotating monthly
exhibits of other artists. Online shopping is the wave of the future so we best
grab hold and get onboard. So many plans….so many ideas……it’s exciting!

All this work has kept me away from the viewing of shows and
exhibits but a few oddities of human behavior and a pretty funny typo in the paper
are worth pointing out. Question for you…ever
work in retail? If so….did you close
down during posted business hours to do store inventory? You know, turning
shoppers away so you could smoke a cigarette outside next to a tiny sign that
says you are closed for inventory? Then sort of wave a hand and say “sorry”. Hmmm….thought not, but a local store did
yesterday so I just can’t wait to go there today because customer friendly is
their business model…right? Next up, did
you read about the Odd Mall in the paper this past weekend? Wonder how many pictures of river boats got
sold? I would expect “fairies” to be a hot item at this type of event, but not “ferries.”

I got to experience the America’s Mart wholesalers / buyers/
apparel show this past month in Atlanta. After the colonoscopy, lie detector
test and federal back ground check to get in the door, even I could only spend
a couple hours at most before becoming overwhelmed by our consumerism. Not that
I didn’t go back to look a few times to check on the status of the clientele,
but I was obviously from the “north” and not in the right “uniform” of
leggings, pull cart and star$ coffee cup in hand. Atlanta has a wonderful botanical garden,
even in Feb when all is dead and brown, no uniform needed.

Okay, answers to the Question of the Month: Name an article of clothing you wish you
still owned today, regardless of fit.

Uriah Heep T shirt Mom’s
flour sack shirt HSM
shirt

Centenial Glasgow Celtic soccer shirt basketball
jersey

Led Zep T-shirt football
jersey lingere

Jimmy Cliff concert shirt blanky

J. C. Superstar tour t-shirt (Neely and Anderson) rainforest boxers

Bikini underwear tube
socks sweat
socks

KISS belt buckle black
Betmer hat orange bikini

Kim Possible costume speedo

Lava Lava (?) brown
buckle shoes green
high tops

Dingo boots Go
Go boots cowboy
boots

1968 Buffalo sandals black
converse shoes saddle
shoes

Frye boots all
white Nike ____ (?) paisley
vest

Leather vest Lt blue leisure suit leisure suit

Scooter skirt hand
painted blue jeans short
shorts!

Nylon parachute pants Dee
Cee overalls

Button fly jeans lederhosen bib overalls (2)

Any pair of jeans with a 30” waist bell
bottom slacks

Paw print harem pants jean
jacket

Pink corduroy pants rabbit
jacket knickers

Letter jacket neon
windbreaker Nehru
jacket

My mom’s black wool sweater granny dress

Michael Jackson jacket Poe
Dameron’s jacket Barbie
dress

High school baby doll dress my princess
dress

White dress with red polka dots shark
skin jacket

Cleveland Indians jersey (?)

Once again, thank you all for playing, see you at our
March Project “heart strings” but I hope you will stop by to shop and explore
long before that!

About Me

I have been a working artist for over 35 years. My paintings have been included in shows all across the United States as well as in solo exhibitions. Visit my gallery site (www.judikrew.com) for more information and a look at some of my acrylic paintings, pastel drawings and hoard couture dresses. I have a BFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Akron Honors Program and an MA in Art Education from Case Western Reserve University.